Killer Instinct Could 'Blow Up' According to Pro Fighter Justin Wong

Evil Geniuses' Justin Wong has chimed in with some positive words about the upcoming Killer Instinct reboot.

With its modest launch line-up of six playable characters, and more planned down the line as DLC, some fans of the competitive fighting game scene have questioned whether Double Helix's Xbox One exclusive will find a home with the hardcore player-base. Justin's decade-long reign of terror in Marvel vs Capcom 2, and overall aptitude in a variety of modern fighters makes him what you might call an authority.

"Out of all the next-gen fighting games we currently know about, I think Killer Instinct has the biggest potential to blow up in the community," Wong said on Evil Geniuses' official site. "It's like a revival for the series." He goes on to cite Double Helix's willingness to give the community multiple opportunities to try the game, which has certainly been an omen for success since Capcom adopted the practice with Street Fighter 4 in 2009.

Some have pointed out that Killer Instinct's next-gen exclusivity may limit the degree of support it will see at major tournaments, where as many as 20-30 units are sometimes required to work through large, double-elimination brackets. Procuring equipment is one of many practical issues that tournament organizers have to solve in order to put on a successful event. This could explain why, despite his positive feelings about the game, Justin still believes that "...Xbox 360 and PS3 will be the main (Fighting Game Community) console for at least another year."

That said, community support has to start somewhere, and top players with big followings are taste-makers to legions of dedicated fans. Few have Mr. Wong's level of recognition, and he has shown a rare ability to break down and showcase fighting games at an early stage in their life. He single-handedly put Wolverine on the map in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, turning a character most had written off into one of the most over-used fighters in the game's early tournament life.

"You can look forward to me streaming some Killer Instinct this fall, though. That's for sure!" said Justin, who's looking to grab an Xbox One at launch. If he can work his magic and highlight its strengths to his audience, it could certainly go a long way towards the game gaining traction in competitive circles.

Do you think the Wong Factor is enough to make Killer Instinct take off? Sound off in the comments below!

Vincent Ingenito is IGN's third newest recruit, and third biggest MOBA fan. He also doesn't suck at fighting games. To hear him nerd out about them and other games, follow him on Twitter.